Investigation

A person wearing a pink shirt and a black sling bag stands with her hand on her forehead and her other hand holding a phone to her ear as she talks into it, tears swelling up in there eyes. In the background is the parking lot area in front of a Home Depot with trees scattered around on a sunny day.

Justice

‘There is no sanctuary anywhere:’ Border Patrol raids come to California’s capital

The Border Patrol began conducting operations in Sacramento on Thursday, as two federal court rulings have ordered them to stop warrantless raids.

By Wendy Fry and Sergio Olmos • July 17, 2025

Three law enforcement officials — dressed in camouflage SWAT gear and wearing masks to cover their faces — stand in the middle of a public street while holding weapons.

Justice

Judge says immigration agents must stop ‘roving patrols’ that have upended Southern California

A court ruling Friday orders a halt to a chaotic and relentless 36-day immigration crackdown that’s upended life across Southern California.

By Wendy Fry and Sergio Olmos • July 11, 2025

Justice

California Highway Patrol fell behind other agencies on body cams. Now it’s trying to fix that

In 2022, CalMatters reported that the CHP was far behind local law enforcement agencies, a distinction the agency plans to address.

By Byrhonda Lyons • July 9, 2025

A black car with severe front-end damage is parked in the middle of a residential street, its door open and its bumper partially detached. Behind it, a white vehicle is crumpled against a tree. Two law enforcement officers stand to the right, partially obscured by trees. Power lines hang low above the scene, and bright pink and white markers are visible on the asphalt, suggesting an active crash investigation.

Justice

They crashed. They killed. They’re driving again in the North Bay — and it’s perfectly legal

Despite felony convictions in fatal crashes, several local drivers have regained licenses under a system that operates with no public tracking, few safeguards and rising calls for reform.

By CalMatters Staff • July 9, 2025

Three law enforcement agents — dressed in combat gear, wearing face masks that cover their identity and holding automatic weapons — stand on the side of a road as they look in front of them. A black combat vehicle with two other agents on the rooftop can be seen in the background.

Investigation

Masked, armed and forceful: Finding patterns in California immigration raids

CalMatters has partnered with Evident Media and Bellingcat to map and analyze videos of the immigration raids across Los Angeles in a new short documentary: The film builds off of previous CalMatters reporting:

By Sergio Olmos • July 8, 2025

People, dressed in camouflage clothing with vests labeled "police" and holding weapons, stand in the middle of the street as a crowd films them during an immigration raid.

Justice

‘Brazen, midday kidnappings:’ LA immigration sweeps violate Constitution, lawsuit says

The lawsuit says federal agents are stopping people only for being Latino, placing them in ‘deplorable conditions’ and not allowing them to speak with an attorney.

By Wendy Fry and Sergio Olmos • July 2, 2025

A person stands in front of a bright blue building between two storefronts. They lean against the wall with one arm raised, holding onto a pink and blue striped awning. To their left is a shop with hanging snack packages; to their right is a clothing store with mannequins and shelves displaying folded garments. Sunlight casts sharp shadows across the sidewalk and wall.

Investigation

Taken: What happens after an LA immigration raid

CalMatters spoke with a number of migrants about their arrests and detentions after the first weekend of LA raids. Their accounts raise potential legal questions about the government’s operation.

By Sergio Olmos, Wendy Fry, Lauren Hepler and Anat Rubin • June 26, 2025

Black and white photograph of the tombstone of Joseph R. Ramirez, displaying three images of him set against a background of clouds; the gravestone includes his name and birth and death dates; in front of the marker lie several stones, a bouquet of flowers, and a memorial plaque

Investigation

They were convicted of killing with their cars. No one told the California DMV

A CalMatters investigation found that courts didn’t report hundreds of vehicular manslaughter convictions to the DMV, prompting officials to belatedly take many drivers’ licenses.

By Lauren Hepler and Robert Lewis • June 25, 2025

A law enforcement official dressed in a green uniform stands in front of a podium while speaking during a press conference. Three American flags can be seen in the background.

Investigation

He misled the public about his last big immigration sweep. Now he’s leading the Border Patrol in LA

The immigration raids across Los Angeles have all the hallmarks of Gregory Bovino's Kern County sweep, which a federal judge says likely violated the Constitution.

By Andrew Donohue, Sergio Olmos and Wendy Fry • June 13, 2025

A foggy, empty street runs through a small rural town lined with wooden buildings and power lines. A pickup truck loaded with firewood is parked near a feed and hardware store with a faded sign. Trees with bare branches and forested hills are visible in the misty background.

Investigation

The Man Who Unsolved a Murder

If you’re accused of a crime, will someone investigate your side of the story? In California, there’s no guarantee.

By Anat Rubin • June 5, 2025